I'm delighted to welcome many local and visiting dancers to the Arkley Center stage for this one-night production. Here are the performers and the ideas they are exploring in our production. The inspiration for this event are the creatures, characters, myths and stories of the ocean.

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Ya Habibi Dance Company, directed by Shoshanna
This fantastic local dance company was founded by Shoshanna in 1998 and has delighted audiences across the north coast ever since. They enjoy delving into many styles of dance, and for this concert will be performing a MERMAID suite and a SHARK suite.

Shoshanna, Arcata, California
Shoshanna is the producer of this event and will perform a solo inspired by the movement of the lionfish. Shoshanna has helped develop sets for Ya Habibi Dance Company, the Little Habibis, a rehearsing group that developed our PIRATE, KELP and JELLYFISH pieces, advisor to the SAIDI NARWHALS and choreographer of the WAVES piece to open the show.

Jauhara, Arcata, California
"Living on the coast, and having been on boats, I've noted the prevalence and importance of the WIND. It is so rarely completely still. It whips up whitecaps, scuds foam across the sand, gives us that fresh, crisp ocean air we so love. The sea without wind is just a big, calm pond.

Grateful Sirens, Vallejo, California
This tremedously talented group of fourteen dancers will be joining us for this production with two pieces... SEA BIRDS and the UNDERSEA CABARET. Directed by Saiedeh. Variations of this group have graced the stage of the Redwood Coast Belly Dance Festival many times. We're excited to have them join us again!

LaRana, Guerneville, California
"I am SEAWEED... swirling fan veils painted with fish will dance and swm around me."

Kristi Alberti, Eureka, California
"Rivery flow into the ocean... drifting into the unknown..."

Nathalie Mostrel, Arcata, California
Inspired by the story of the Greek Goddess Alcyone.... the peaceful calm of the still ocean day.

Isadora Sharon, Arcata, California
A modern dance / belly dance fusion choreography exploring the idea of SIRENS.

Tribal Oasis, directed by Megz Madrone, Eureka, California
SEA SERPENT SHOWDOWN Viking battle with a sea serpent, and THE MERMAID'S WISH are two fabulous fun theatrical pieces by Tribal Belly Dance group Tribal Oasis.

Rawiyah, Los Altos, California
"In changing seas, life must continually search for a welcoming home... "
We're delighted to welcome Rawiyah to the North Coast once more... she danced at all of the ten years of our Redwood Coast Belly Dance Festival!

Rockin' Rubies, directed by Janice Parakilas, Redway, California
These lovely ladies of Southern Humboldt often join us in the north for fun and fabulous dance events. For this concert they have taken inspiration from the OCTOPUS... the most intelligent of the invertebrate animals.

Idena Suzanne, Grants Pass, Oregon
The idea of the TEMPEST has inspired Idena, with a sunny picnic ruined by an epic weather tantrum! Idena was recently dancing in Arcata as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Shoshanna's Nutcracker: Arabian Nights, and will always be one of the Jewels of the Redwoods from the Redwood Coast Belly Dance Festival.

Devi Safir, Grants Pass, Oregon
"After a shipwreck, tossed about by waves, she awakens on a desert island shore. Her mates are lost at sea, and a bottle rolls from her fingers..... "

The Dancers Perilous, Directed by Amanda Olson, Eureka, California
This group has come together for a piece called THE DROWNED MAIDEN... "a story of a maiden walking the plank and falling under the sea. Dark mermaids and sea creatures twirl her in the depths as she transforms into a mermaid. "

Alexandra Stock of Shelter Cove, California and Brian Smith of Arcata California
This dynamic, talented duo is collaborating for the first time in a piece exploring the story of CALYPSO and her seven-year delay of ODYSSEUS on his epic voyage.

Kirsten Stambaugh of Eureka, California and Erik Rez of Arcata California
A partner dance duet to the classic Egyptian song Ya Msafer Whadek.... elegant and amazing!